PASSING OF ESTIMATES

Hawera Star, Volume LII, 19 November 1932, Page 6

PASSING OF ESTIMATES

MAIN CLAUSES COMPLETED. BAILWAY POLICY DEPENDED. (By Telegraph—Pre£3 Association.l WELLINGTON, Nov. 18. Urgency was accorded the passage of the remaining clauses of the Estimates in the House of Representatives to-day. The passage of the main Estimates was completed in the afternoon, when the, following clauses -were adopted: Land and Survey Department, £158,907; Land for Settlement account, £7200; Discharged Soldiers’ 'Settlement account, £37,000; Bailway Department, £4,9.15,082• Education Department, £2,700,000.

Replying to questions regarding competition by the railways with coastal shipping, the Rt. Hon. G. W. Porbes said that prior to the appointment of the Railway Board there had been complaints of the unbusinesslike attitude of the Government department in failing to meet competition from other forms of transport. Now that the railways were in the hands of a board comprised of business men people were complaining because the railways were cutting rates in an endeavour to retain their business. He had every sympathy with coastal sliipping’. but there had always been competition between this service and the railways, and in many cases sea transport had possessed considerable advantages. It. had certainly not refrained from cutting rates in an endeavour to gain business.